Purple Hearts

Chapter 21- Epilouge

"Wait, no. no. no. That can't be it." Sarah flipped through pages that told a story of something that had happened years ago.

Did it happen like that? More or less? A little exaggerated? Definitely.

Sarah placed the book on the table and got up to refill her coffee cup when her phone rang. "Are you reading still?!" If Sarah would have put the phone to her ear, Angie's shouts would have made her lose her hearing.

She jumped and spilled some creamer on Spencer's sweater. "Yeah. I just finished it. Or I think I did."

"It just stops! Right there! I'm in the store right now, but I'll be over in five. We need to discuss this face-to-face." Then she hung up.

She and Spencer shared a house along with one of their friends. It was a cute and simple house. When you walked in, there was a small dining area, and then the kitchen that had white tile that separated it from the rest of the large white room. The TV was mounted on a wall to the left, and the couch was in a pit that had steps to get out. Or you could jump over the couch.

There was a short hallway down the hall with three rooms. The master bed and bathroom and two guest rooms.

Their friend Wayne strolled into the kitchen. "Spencer coming home for the weekend?"

"Yeah." Sarah nodded and smiled to herself. Rubbing her thumb on her mug.

"Cool. I'm gonna get the mail." Wayne huffed his blonde hair out of the way and walked towards the door. Before he had the chance to open the door, it flew open knocking Wayne in the nose, whilst Angie busted through the door carrying like four bags.

"Yeah. I'm fine. Thanks for asking." He rubbed his nose. "Sarah, Angie's here."

"Well, yeah. Thanks."

"Oh. Sorry, Wayne." Angie's voice oozed with sarcasm before she focused on Sarah. "Anyway, what do you think the hearts are about?"

"Yeah. It's cool. My nose might be broken, but the mail. The mail." Sarah heard him snap back in the same sarcastic tone before closing the door behind him.

Sarah thought for a moment. "Hmm, probably a symbol of pink and blue coming together. You know? Like our relationship."

"Ohh! That would make a lot of sense. I actually had no idea, and I haven't been over in awhile."

"Because last time you came over drunk. Really drunk. So he kicked you out of the house."

Angie's face turned scarlet. "No! I don't remember that!"

Sarah laughed. "Considering that you were drunk, I'd think that you wouldn't remember."

She huffed. "Anyway, you should go visit him on campus. It'd be a nice surprise for a change."

"Why?" Sarah narrowed her eyes.

"Because! It's different. Plus, don't you miss your old campus?"

She sighed, grabbing her car keys."Yeah. Okay."

"Oh no, I'm driving!" Angie proceeded to pick up the bags that she carried in the house to the car.

Angie drove them, with a dozen bags in the back seat, to Clemson.

"What's in these bags anyway?" Sarah peeked into one of them only to see more plastic.

"Clothes. I did some serious shopping, and kind of went a little over budget, but it's okay! I have some savings." Angie laughed a little to herself.

They chatted aimlessly for awhile and sang every song that came on the radio until they pulled up to their old and all too familiar University.

"Where do you think he might be?" Angie asked as they stepped out of the car.

"Hmm, well maybe the library or something. I know he's got a term paper to do, so he could be there."

"Yeah, let's go there." They walked silently. Sarah mostly reminisced at all the memories she'd created at the old campus.

Eventually the campus library could be seen up ahead. "Hey. I'll leave ya to it. I've got somewhere to be, and I kinda don't want to be your third-wheel." Angie laughed.

It was understandable. Sometimes when they were together, they didn't acknowledge the presence of others as much as they should. Sarah nodded and they went separate ways.

Sarah strolled casually into the library, thinking about where he might be.

Fifth floor? Maybe somewhere in the basement? She'd decided to look there first then work her way up to the top floor.

She couldn't help but smile when she walked into the elevator.

"Hey." There was a bit of surprise in his voice. "Didn't expect to see you here."

"Angie wanted me to surprise you so umm... Surprise?"

Spencer's laugh awakened the butterflies that slumbered in her stomach. They always did that. "I think my surprise is bigger." He ruffled around in his book bag and pulled out a piece of paper.

This was no ordinary piece of paper. This one was purple, laminated, and in the shape of a heart. Except this time, there were words on it and a hole. There was a hole cut into it.

She read it.

"You could put this on your finger, but it wouldn't make as much sense as me doing this."

A tiny arrow pointed back to Spencer, whose face was the slightest shade of red. He held out a small suede box. 

"It's your choice. If you don't want to, then don't force yourself." He smiled.